Skip to main content

9 - 15 Mar - Learn With Joy and Not With Sorrow - Jacob 1 - 4

Jacob 1 - That We Might Persuade Them to Come Unto Christ I'm taking an online economics class right now, which prompted me to think of the definition of economics in the context of the scriptures. Economics is the study of the allocation of scarce resources. In the case of Nephi and his successor Jacob, the plates upon which they engraved their record was a scarce resource. They were costly to make and difficult to engrave, and instilling a tradition of passing them through generations was surely cumbersome.  Recognizing the great importance of spiritual things and the challenge of maintaining records, Nephi instructed Jacob to prioritize religious instruction saying, " if there were preaching which was sacred, or revelation which was great, or prophesying, that I should engraven the heads of them upon these plates, and touch upon them as much as it were possible, for Christ’s sake, and for the sake of our people" (Jacob 1:4).   This priority was not only reflecte...
1 comment

3 Nephi 10 - As a Hen Gathereth Her Chickens Under Her Wings



The voice of the Lord spoke to the Nephites a second time, but only after "there was silence in all the land for the space of many hours" (3 Nephi 10:2). The people were "astonished" and needed time to reflect on the miraculous event that had just occurred. After a pause in their mourning, Christ asked multiple times, "how oft have I gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings" (3 Nephi 10:4, 5, 6). By repeating this phrase Christ emphasized His long-suffering nature, and the persistence of his mercy. His arms are always extended to receive the penitent. 

 The Nephites continued to mourn for three days of darkness, but eventually "the wailing of the people who were spared alive did cease; and their mourning was turned into joy, and their lamentations into the praise and thanksgiving unto the Lord Jesus Christ, their Redeemer" (3 Nephi 10:10). I draw significance from the fact that they began to experience joy while they remained in the darkness. As is generally the case, our attitude and beliefs change before we see a transformation in the external world. 

 Lastly, Nephi testified to the future readers of this record that "many have testified of these things at the coming of Christ" (3 Nephi 10:15). He lists the prophets Zenos, Zenock, Jacob, and Lehi, and alludes to the imminent fulfillment of one of the greatest prophecies in the Book of Mormon: that Christ would personally visit the people of the American continent, minister to them, and establish His church. 

 "I will show unto you that the people of Nephi who were spared ... did have great favors shown unto them, and great blessings poured out upon their heads, insomuch that soon after the ascension of Christ into heaven he did truly manifest himself unto them—Showing his body unto them, and ministering unto them; and an account of his ministry shall be given hereafter" (3 Nephi 10:18-19).
Application Questions

 How is God reaching out to you to invite you to repent and come unto Him? What is holding you back?
Image Credit: Liz Lemon Swindle

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

2 - 8 Mar - My Soul Delighteth in Plainness - 2 Nephi 31-33

2 Nephi 31 - My Soul Delighteth in Plainness I wonder how many people would agree with the statement "God's work is simple and clear." I think for most people God is mystifying, and his nature incomprehensible. But Nephi said, " my soul delighteth in plainness" and testified,  "f or after this manner doth the Lord God work among the children of men" (2 Nephi 31:2). This assertion made me curious to know the ways in which God works in a "plain" manner. Definitions of "plain" include the ideas of being simple or ordinary in character, without pretense, and clear and unequivocal. This reminds me of something Sister Linda Burton said while I was interpreting for a leadership training conference in Taiwan. She stressed that as a general authority she was called to teach general principles. I extended this statement to mean that general authorities are called to teach and testify core doctrine, not necessarily to answer the most chal...
Post a Comment
Read more

9 - 15 Mar - Learn With Joy and Not With Sorrow - Jacob 1 - 4

Jacob 1 - That We Might Persuade Them to Come Unto Christ I'm taking an online economics class right now, which prompted me to think of the definition of economics in the context of the scriptures. Economics is the study of the allocation of scarce resources. In the case of Nephi and his successor Jacob, the plates upon which they engraved their record was a scarce resource. They were costly to make and difficult to engrave, and instilling a tradition of passing them through generations was surely cumbersome.  Recognizing the great importance of spiritual things and the challenge of maintaining records, Nephi instructed Jacob to prioritize religious instruction saying, " if there were preaching which was sacred, or revelation which was great, or prophesying, that I should engraven the heads of them upon these plates, and touch upon them as much as it were possible, for Christ’s sake, and for the sake of our people" (Jacob 1:4).   This priority was not only reflecte...
1 comment
Read more

1 Nephi 17 - That I May Find Ore to Molten, That I May Make Tools

Nephi is given the daunting task of constructing a ship to carry his family across the ocean. Like Nephi, the Lord asks us to do things that are beyond our current knowledge and ability with a promise that he will help us: "And if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them ( 1 Nephi 17:3 ) From the experience of Nephi and his family, we can also see that the Lord grants us joy in our trials and certainty in his direction when we follow his commandments. When Nephi and his family reached the seashore, a brief respite before crossing the ocean, they enjoyed the break and celebrated their progress: "Notwithstanding we had suffered many afflictions and much difficulty, yea, even so much that we cannot write them all, we were exceedingly rejoiced when we came to the seashore; and we called the place Bountiful, because of its m...
Post a Comment
Read more